You might be amazed by the amount of money you can save on your next water bill by replacing your toilet with a new 1.6 gal per flush water saving unit. This is a job that can be completed by the general homeowner in an afternoon. With sufficient preparation, replacing a toilet is a fairly straight forward task.
Step 1:
Remove the new 1.6 toilet from its box and make sure there is no chips or scratches. Verify that all the parts are there. You will also need a wax ring which should come with the new toilet.
Step 2:
Turn off the water behind the toilet and flush the toilet to drain it. You will need to soak up as much as you can with a shop vac or rag and wring it into a pal. A genereal pair of rubber gloves will be helpful for the next step.
Step 3:
Separate the tank from the bowl by loosening the tank bolts. Take the tank off the bowl and discard it.
Step 4:
Unscrew the floor bolts that hold the base to the floor. Use a pair of pliers if the bolts are hard to move. Gently rock the toilet base to break the wax seal.
Step 5:
Lift the toilet straight up and set it on a piece of the box in order to protect the floor from any remaining water in the bowl or wax from the bottom. The cardboard will make it easier to move the toilet out of the way. It is a good idea to cover up the pipe with an old rag or plastic bag to prevent sewer gasses from escaping.
Step 6:
Remove the wax seal with a putty knife or paper towels. Apply the new wax seal around the toilet flange. first remember to remove the rag from the drain pipe.
Step 7:
Apply the new wax seal. Place the new toilet base over the floor bolts and center it over the wax seal. Tighten the bolts but not to tight and replace the caps. Attach the tank to the new base with the included hardware.
Step 8:
Connect a new water line to the toilet. Turn the water back on and wait for the tank to fill and check for leaks. You will need to flush a couple of times to fill the bowl with water.
